The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-09-29
THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

THE LABOR MOVEMENT.
The Winston Sentinel says it wants to al
knights of Labor join the democratic party.
PRAY what Tor neighbor?-7He Cfaftsn,au.
The Craftsman has asked peril
nent question and one which we are
Glad to answer From carefully
made inquiries, we are inclined to be-
lieve that about three fourths Of white
knights of Labor are already in the
ranks Of the Democracy. We want
to see the remainder there,-why?
Because the laborers can get better
representation, can attain their ends
better while fighting with the Dem
ocracy than as distinct and separate
party; because we believe the Demo-
cratic party meets the requirements
of the working men more nearly than
any other established party.
The labor convention held in New
York some weeks ago, headed by Hen
ry George, declared for Il low tariff
on the necessaries of life. In plain
strong English, it said what amount
ed to this: I'VE, as laberers, as poor
men, as producers, want our clothes,
our sugar, our axes, our farm and
mechanical utensils cheap; We can
never get them so long as high tariff
keeps out foreign goods and enables
the manufacturers in America to de-
mand from us any price they choose,
in other words we want a lOaC tariff.
Labor and It's products must go I'M
taxed" Besides few other clauses
about the economical administration
OF the government and some other
resolutions which it will hardly be able
to carry ,out before the millennium
begins to redden the east, this was
the gist, the consensus of that con ven
tion.
Now let us glance for one moment
al the position Of the Democratic par
ty on the tariff. Leaving out Mr..
Randall and few followers, who,
masquerading under the name of
Democrats, are really supported by q
Republican constituency, we find that
the great mass of Democrats believe
in tariff for revenue only, a lOaO tar
If.
This party for years has been ma
king strong fight for low import du-
ties. 1t is opposed to making the
poor man pay an average tax of 40
per cent Oh the clothes he wears and
implements and machinery he uses,
while the wealthy New England
manufacturer imports his silks, his
Diamonds and his fire wines and pays
upon them 4 mere pittance.
The Republican party Railways has,
is, and presumably always will be
in favor Of high tariff. As this is
the only party besides the Democrat
ic whose strength is worth row of
pins, it is very plain that the working
mans best interests are hand in hand
with the Democracy.
Now, with the interests of Labor
and Of Democracy identical and, both
opposed to Republlcanism, it is very
natural to conclude that they can
achieve better results by working to-
gether,
Outside these great national .ques-
tions, the labor element has cause,
a high noble cause. 1t is the cause OF
morality, of religion ..and happiness.
Let one read the constitution of the
K. Of L. and he will find that they
are banded together for promoting
honesty, sobriety, faithfullness, edu-
cation and all that tends to elevate and
ennoble humanity So far, SO good
we are heartily in sympathy with the
organization But let it not en- ter the
domain of politics. 1t is an organiza-
ton which, in its sphere, can accom-
| plish much good. So can the Masons
the Odd Fellows or the knights OF
| Pythias, but it would be suicidal for
them to enter the political arena upon
no better platform than that they
wanted to put their own men in office.
We are not of those who believe Mr.
Henry George either knave or fool
While believing that many of his the
cries are the widest of the wild, and as
impracticable as bridgeing the ocean,
we believe he intends right, but errs
in his judgement regarding the best
means fo1 helping the laboring class
The Democratic party always has
been, and is, the best tool for the
working man to use in gaining and
maintaining his rights and privileges
In it he can accomplish more than
alone, and, because we wish to see the
K. of l.. organization prosper and at
tain its legitimate ends, and because
we believe labor party would com
pletely wreck and annihilate it, we
wish to see all the Knights within the
Democratic ranks, working for a good
pure, honest government
The encampment of the grand army
of the Republic, which began at St